Past Releases

A handful of our past releases are offered below for a limited time exclusively to Optimist Society Members. The rest are no longer available for purchase. For those who have already acquired these wines, the links below provide detailed information, such as wine notes and cellaring recommendations.

2014 Pangloss Chenin Blanc

Cases Crafted: 185Member Only

Chenin Blanc has a celebrated history in California dating back more than a century, and is enjoying a well-deserved resurgence here. Ours is fermented inside concrete eggs, each about the size of a large oak barrel. These cleverly designed egg-shaped vessels impart texture and depth to the wine, and foster Chenin Blanc's natural minerality. After fermentation, we aged the wine in neutral oak to soften the brisk acidity, creating balance and complexity.

2014 Pangloss Pinot Noir, Charles Vineyard

Cases Crafted: 294Member Only

Our close friends Bill and Nancy Charles have meticulously farmed their 15-acre vineyard near the town of Boonville in Anderson Valley since 2001. In that time it has become one of the most sought-after sites for Pinot Noir in California, and we are very fortunate to have access to it. We harvest two specific blocks, both planted to the Pommard clone. This particular clone lends an earthy complexity that is one of the signatures of outstanding Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

$45.00

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2013 Pangloss Cabernet Sauvignon

Cases Crafted: 157

In a vintage suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, this versatile wine stands out. A long, warm growing season in 2013 provided ideal conditions for rich, fruit-forward flavors - precisely the friendly style we pursue with this wine. Smooth, round tannins make this an easily approachable Cabernet Sauvignon, and it's one of our favorite go-to bottles for everyday enjoyment.

2014 Pangloss Tenacity

Cases Crafted: 215Member Only

We’re often asked where this wine got its imaginative name. Grenache-based wines like this one are common in the Southern Rhône, yet are fairly scarce in California. We were determined – some would say tenacious – to create a Sonoma bottling to rival our French favorites. Adding modest amounts of Mourvèdre and Syrah, with their signature savory notes, perfectly complement the rustic elegance of Grenache. The result is an exceptional wine worthy of the effort we put into it.

$40.00

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2013 Pangloss White Blend

Cases Crafted: 100

Member Only

Characteristics: Crisp, clean Grenache Blanc and Roussanne are blended with a touch of lush Viognier to give this wine a mouthfilling viscosity without sacrificing acidity.

2014 Pangloss Chardonnay

Cases Crafted: 395

Our favorite Chardonnays strike a perfect balance between rich fruit and crisp acidity, allowing the wine to reveal its versatility over the course of a meal. Bright, focused and refreshing with a luscious mouthfeel and clean finish, ours hits all the right notes. We age it for 14 months in a combination of new and neutral French oak barrels for added complexity.

2014 Pangloss Sauvignon Blanc

Cases Crafted: 373

Some of our favorite Sauvignon Blanc comes from France's Loire Valley. At its best it is not only crisp and refreshing, but also exhibits a rich mouthfeel that often distinguishes it from Sauvignon Blanc produced elsewhere. We modeled ours in the same Old World style
–
aged in neutral oak for added complexity.

$25.00

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2013 Pangloss Chenin Blanc

Cases Crafted: 100

Member Only

Characteristics: This new addition to the Pangloss portfolio breathes new life into a varietal with a pivotal role in California’s winemaking history. Refreshing acidity, minerals, spearmint and citrus peel are tempered by the gentle addition of neutral oak. If you’re looking for a modern twist on a classic varietal, this is the bottle for you.

Vineyard: Sourced from Two Creeks Farm in Kenwood.

$30.00

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2012 Pangloss Cabernet Sauvignon

Cases Crafted: 239

Characteristics: elegant, fine-grained tannin structure and supple fruit, supported by a core of lively acidStyle:
deep, complex, mountain-grown fruit blended with a modicum of
valley-floor fruit, which provides approachability to the resulting wine

2011 Pangloss Optimism

Cases Crafted: 200

Member Only

Voltaire’s literary figure Dr. Pangloss was the original “eternal optimist.” His unwavering optimism inspires everything we do, including this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark fruit and ripe tannins make it very approachable now, yet it will gain complexity with a few years in your cellar.

$85.00

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2012 Pangloss Pinot Noir, Charles Vineyard

Cases Crafted: 247

Member Only

Characteristics: wildflowers, pepper and cherries augment a Burgundian backbone of earth that lingers on the palate.

Vineyard: Bill and Nancy Charles’ eponymous 15-acre vineyard is home to some of the most sought-after Pinot Noir in California. For those who enjoy New World Pinot that’s firmly rooted in a Burgundian approach, the Charles Vineyard sets the standard.

2012 Pangloss Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain District

Characteristics: Forward fruit and firm tannins are the hallmarks of this ageworthy blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc. This bottling will continue to develop for 15+ years.

Vineyard: Sourced from a collection of revered vineyards within the newly approved Moon Mountain District AVA, all planted in 100% volcanic soil. Hillside vineyards high above the fog line place stress on the vines, fostering richer tannins and balanced acidity.

$65.00

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2012 Pangloss Cabernet Sauvignon, Monte Rosso Vineyard

Cases Crafted: 137

Member Only

Characteristics: Massive tannins and firm acidity hold this wine’s power firmly in check. With some air, the nose reveals an intoxicating smokiness, with layers of red fruits and tobacco. A wine for the Cabernet Sauvignon collector, it has the potential to age 15+ years. Decanting is highly recommended if you can’t wait that long.

Vineyard: With plantings dating back to 1880, the 575-acre Monte Rosso vineyard is among the most heralded vineyards in California. Planted on 100% volcanic soil, this Cabernet Sauvignon is dry farmed to encourage acidity and tannin development.

$60.00

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2013 Pangloss Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard

Cases Crafted: 68Member Only

This hillside-grown Zinfandel delivers all the concentrated fruit we have come to expect from one of California’s most celebrated vineyards. There is a savory, hedonistic character to this wine that intrigues us, yet it never sacrifices finesse. Its rustic structure is a throwback to Sonoma’s early style of Zinfandel winemaking.